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p 31- J. c. CROMWELL I 35 SHOWER BATHTUB Filed June 13, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Ii-Nil Him MM Will I l IEIENTOR Sept. 22, 1931.

J. c. CROMWELL SHOWER BATHTUB Filed June 13, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. c. CROMWELL 1,824,035

SHOWER BATHTUB Filed June Sept. 22, 1931.

13 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 JwZO.

Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN C. CROMWELL, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE STEEL SANITARY COMPANY, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO SHOWER IBATHTUB Application filed June 18,

The present invention relates broadly to the art of sheet metal ware making, and more particularly to an improved sheet steel shower bath tub of sectional or one piece con- 5 struction.

' In the accompanying drawings I have shown, for purposes of illustration only, and not by way of limitation, a preferred embodi- .-ment of my invention. 1 In the drawings a Figure 1 is a top plan View, partly broken away, of a shower bath tub constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line IIII of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3is a top plan view of a blank adapted to be utilized for the manufacture of a shower bath tub in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line IVIV of Figure 3 illustrating the bottom blank section removed from the blank of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on theline V-V of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a top edge elevation of an apron section;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the apron section of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on the line VIIIVIII of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of a blank for the production of the body of the tub;

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the body blank in shaped position; and

Figure 11 is a detail elevational view of one form of curtain supporting means.

In accordance with the preferred inven tion, I subject a blank 2, either of substantially rectangular contour, or of the general contour illustrated in Figure 3, to a suitable punching and shaping operation, or to separate punching and shaping operations, to provide apron forming portions3 thereon, each having a projecting flange 4 along one edge thereof.

The apron forming portions project at substantially right angles to each other from a continuously extending rim forming portion 1928. Serial No. 284,963.

5. The rim forming portion along the edges opposite those carrying the apron portions is formed with an upstanding strengthening flange 6, as clearly apparent from Figures 3 and 4.

The bottom forming section 7, removed from the blank 2' by the punching operation,

is shaped, as indicated in Figure 4, by any desired dies provided for that purpose. The upstanding edge 8 of the bottom section, and the bottom edge 9 of the peripherally extending downturned edge 10 of the rim section 5, are preferably trimmed to provide square edges for cooperation with an intermediate body forming section 11 formed from a suit- 5 able blank 12, as indicated in Figure 9, theendsv of the blank abutting along the line 13 of Figure 10.

An apron section 14, as indicatedin Figures 6, 7 and 8, is separately formed in any desired manner and of such length as to extend continuously between the apron portions 3 when such portions have been bent into the dotted line position ofFigure 4. Prior to such bending operation, -however,.the rim 7 forming section 5 is preferably inverted to receive a body section 11, the edge 15 of which cooperates with the edge 9. Thereafterthe bottom section 7 is placed on the body with the edge 8 of the bottom section abutting the edge 16 of the body section. In this position the sections are welded along all of the abutting lines by suitable joints preferably formed entirely from the outside of the article, whereby the inside is left in substantially its original condition for the re ception of vitreous enamel coatings.

After welding the parts in the manner described, the apron sections 3 are bent downwardly into the position illustrated in dotted 9 lines in Figure 4, and the apron section 14 is placed in position between such apron sections and welded therein along each of its ends and along the upper edge 17 which abuts the downturned edge 18 on the rim section 5.

The shower bath tub thus formed may have secured thereto side portions 19 of sheet steel or glass mounted in a suitable framework. The side portions extend in angular relationship, as indicated in Figure 1, and provide a center opening therebetween adapted to be closed by doors or curtains 20. These doors or curtains are separately carried by a supportin frame 21 maintaining the lower edge thereo%at all times within the body of the tub, as clearly indicated in Figure 2. The upper portion of each of the frames 20 is adapted to cooperate with suitable supporting means 22, as indicated in Figure 11 of the drawings, to maintain the frames in proper cooperative position during the opening and closing movements thereof. The use of closures adapted to be held at all times in a predetermined position is particularly desirable, inasmuch as it prevents the lower edges'thereof from getting outside of the tub and thus permitting the room containing the tub to be splashed in the manner frequently occurring with curtains now in use.

At any stage during the manufacture of the tub, it may be provided with a drain opening 23 and an overflow opening 24. The

drain opening 28 is adapted to cooperate with any, of the well-known fittings of the character permitting the contents either to drain rapidly therefrom or to. be retained therein to the level of tha overflow.

With the tub in position in a room, as indicated in Figure 2, the upstanding reinforcing edges 6 interlock with the wall 25 to prevent relative movement between the tub and wall, and to prevent the passage of water from the tub into the wall by capillary action or by ravity.

If esired, a tub having side frames and positively guidedclosures, such as the closures 20, may be constructed from a single sheet of metal by a suitable series of drawing operations, or from castmetal, although due to the lighter weight, im roved appearance, and ease of manufacture, prefer a sectional construction of the character herein described.

I claim 1. A corner tub comprising a sheet metal blank of substantially the shape of the quad rant of a circle having an opening therein-and spaced integral legs, a sheet metal bottom and an independently formed sheet metal side wall connecting said bottom to the blank at the edge of the opening.

2. A corner tub comprising a sheet metal blank of substantially the shapeof a quadrant of a circle having an opening therein I and spaced integral legs, a sheet metal bottom, an independently formed sheet metal side wall connecting said bottom to the blank at the edge of 'said opening, and an independently formed sheet metal apron connected between the legs.

. 3. A sheet metal shower bath unit for a room corner, including a tub comprising a horizontal sheet metal member of substantially the shape of a quadrant of a circlehaving an opening therein and spaced vertic'al supporting legs integral with said member, a bottom sheet metal member, an independently formed side wall sheet metal member connecting the bottom member to the horizontal member at the edge of the opening and spaced plane side walls extending upwardly from the horizontal member, a circular track supported by said side walls and substantially rigid curtains slidably supportedges for cooperation with the walls of the,

room and the part of the rim forming the segment of the circle having a downturned apron extending to the floor of the room.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN C. CROMWELL. 

